Fostering Hope and Facilitating Change: Public Health in the 21st Century

October 1, 2, 3, 2008
Breezy Point Resort and Conference Center
Breezy Point, Minnesota

Click here to download a pdf of the 2008 conference brochure.

The theme of the 2008 Community Health Conference is “Fostering Hope and Facilitating Change: Public Health in the 21st Century”. This theme is an affirmation that in public health we are working for the common good and we are striving to be a positive force for change.

The public health challenges of the 21st century like health care transformation, mental health, climate change, and closing the gap on disparities - will be as complex as any we have faced to date. Meeting these challenges will require determination and innovation, which will be fueled by our belief in a brighter future. Throughout this year’s conference we will explore and seek to better define our role in fostering hope and facilitating change in the new century.

As a participant you will:

• Hear about the effects of climate change from one of Minnesota’s top climate experts, while learning about its potential impact on public health;
• Discover how leaders in Minnesota’s business community are working to address social determinants such as disparities in race, geography and education to ensure the future of Minnesota’s workforce;
• Gain fresh perspectives by attending concurrent sessions on the following topics: public health infrastructure, social determinants of health, risky behaviors, communications, mental health and environmental health;
• Think creatively about how to incorporate continuous quality improvement into our daily work as we move toward voluntary national accreditation; and
• Gain an appreciation for the proven health benefits of laughter, while learning how to ensure helpful, not harmful, humor in your workplace!